Does Injectable Contraception Lower Risk for Ovarian Cancer?

Case-control study in Thailand suggests the answer is yes.

Several studies have shown that oral contraceptive use lowers risk for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), but the association between use of injectable contraception (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate [DMPA]) and EOC risk has not been well studied. In a multicenter case-control study, investigators enrolled 330 women (age range, 20–70) with EOC who were treated at 1 of 12 hospitals in Thailand (cases) and 982 age-matched women admitted for other care (controls).

Seventy-five percent of cases and 90% of controls were parous (P<0.05). Ever use of DMPA (18% in cases and 26% in controls) was associated with a 39% reduced risk for EOC (P=0.002). Longer duration of DMPA use was associated with more-robust protection against EOC, with 2, 3, and >3 ye…

Reviewing Author

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportMerck, Mithra, Medicines360

Editorial BoardsContraception; Menopause; Contraceptive Technology Update; OBG Management; Medscape OB/GYN & Women’s Health

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportMerck, Mithra, Medicines360

Editorial BoardsContraception; Menopause; Contraceptive Technology Update; OBG Management; Medscape OB/GYN & Women’s Health

Does Injectable Contraception Lower Risk for Ovarian Cancer?

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Reviewing Author